Filling up, puddling, warping, concreting, cementing, etc., by means of flushing with water under pressure



Y 1 563,200 1925 G. J. M. LEXCKNAM FILLING UP, PUDDLING, WARPING CCNCRETING. CEMENTING, ETC, BY MEANS OF F 1TH WATER UNDER PRESSURE ed Nov. 30, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov.24, 1925. 1,563,200

G. J. M. LEICKNAM FILLING UP, PUDDLING WARPING. CONCRETING, CEMENTING, BTQ, BY MEANS OF FLUS nine WITH WATER UNDER PRESSURE Filed Nov. 30, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 'mir ZW W MW W PL HQM Patented Nov. 2%, i925.

PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGES JOSEPH MICHEL LEICKHAM, O13 JARNY, FRANCE.

FILLING UP, PUDDLING, 'V IA'RPING, GQNCRETING, CEMENT'ING, ETC BY MEANS FL'USI-IING WITH WATER UNDER PRESSURE.

Application filed November 30, 1923.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that L Gnomes Josnrrr Mrcr-inn Lincnnnii, citizen of the Republic of France, residing at zl arny, France, have invented certain new and useful ln'iprovements in Filling Up, Puddling, ii arping, Generating, Cementing, Etc, hy vleans of Flushing with l Vater Under Pressure, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a process, the principal applications of which are the stopping or closing of crack and the like, such as er. (marries, tunnels and shaft horings. process of the present invention may also he eu'iployed for the consolidation of land and foundations; for executioner constructions, and for linings or plastering of walls, and the like.

The characteristic features of the present process are:

The materials are not mechanically stirred or driven after mixing with water, as in the processes now in use; the presence of air or other gas inv the receptacle containing the materials is prejudicial for the success of the n'esentprocessythe mixture of materials and water is not driven or conveyed by water but is projected by the vis viva or potential acquired when it isconfined, during a suliicient period of time, in a receptacle communicating with a source of water under pressure; when this process is employed for stopping or closing cracks, crevices, en-

countered in mines, the measuring instruments such as manometers, ieters or the like, are set only on pipes containing water exclusively so that methodical and accurate operation of the instruments is insured.

Broadly stated, this process consists in the Following steps successively per-formed, discontinuously or continuously:

Loading of the materials in a receptacle; closing of the loading aperture or apertures oi? the receptacle, connection or" the latter with a source of water under pressure, and displacement when required of any air which may be present within the receptacle; establishment of the hightest static pressure in the receptacle which can he obtained from the source of water under pressure by communication of the receptacle with said source; and projection of the mixture of Serial No. 677,920.

materials and water by the vis viva .acquired by the mixture in accordance with the static pressure previously estahlished in the receptacle, the mixture being carried through one or more jpipe systems, during the whole or part of its travel from the receptacle to the point of destination.

The apparatus employed in carrying out this process may he designed and constructed in many different forms but they all fall under two categories according to whether the application of the process is discon tinuous or continuous. Any application of the process preferably includes the use of one or more meters for the water supply and the use of one or more inanoineters for obtaining methodical preparation and control of the apparatus.

The accompanying drawings, illustrate by way of example, apparatus which maybe employed in carrying out the process.

In said drawings Figs. 1, 2 and 3, show respectively an elevation, an end view and a plan view of an apparatus for discontinuous application of the process.

Figures {l and represent two forms of apparatus for a continuous application of the process.

Vitith the class of apparatus shown in Figs. 1 to 3, granulated materials of very varialolc sizes (sand, ashes, gravel, granulated slag, etc.,) may be used, as well pastes made up with line materials.

ln the Figures 1, 2 and 3:

T indicates a receptacle in which the changes are loaded.

0 is an aperture for loading the granular materials, and is eitherfitted with a cover, a valve or a register.

0 is a similar aperture closed by a cover or by a valve for the introduction of liquid changes.

It indicates an air relief valve.

A is a sluice valve for the admission of water.

a is an auxiliary valve through which water may he admitted it required to facilitate the-discharge of the materials during the flusl1ing,-said valve being interposed in a hranch a of conduit C, C.

B is a valve for the outlet of the charges.

D represents a decanting valve permitting the removal of any excess of water after each injection, without removing from the receptacle the materials which it may still contain.

V is an evacuation valve.

C C is the water pipe system, and R the injection pipe system.

I I represent respectively the injection valve and the injection tube, the whole arrangen'ient forming the injection head.

F is a valve to regulate the supply of water under pressure.

G is a water meter, and M M M are manometers,.

P indicates a water pump with variable driving pressure.

It is understood that the process does not necessarily include the use of manometers and the water meter. Such apparatus, however, are indispensable it it is desired to operate methodically and economically.

A single manometer by the side of the flushing valve A may be sutlicient, but it is preferable to provide for two near said valve in order to increase safety in the controlling.

It is not indispensable to provide two charging apertures, or the branch pipes controlled by the valve (1, and the tube and the decanting valve D, or the evacuation valve V, but it is evident that it is more practical to use an apparatus containing such arrangements.

Instead of one inlet for the flush water and an outlet tor the injections, the receptacle may have several oi such inlets and outlets.

Finally instead of a pump, any other apparatus may be employed to obtain water under pressure. In mines, in particular, a branch may be used on the exhaust column. The pressure so obtained and the regulation by manoeuvring the valve F, maybe Suf- Eieient in a large number of cases. In the example of discontinuous Working hereinafter mentioned it is supposed that the ob ject of the injections is to stop a waterleakage issuing from a fracture found in "front of mining gallery and revealed by a boring used as an injection opening.

In the first place the characteristics of the fracture to be stopped and of the Si rounding ground is determined as exactly as possible (by measuring the pressure and the quantity as compared with the results of such measures with others which may have been previously observed etc.).

Before commencing the injection of the materials it is advisable to again observe the natural pressure and How, that is to say, the pressure and the flow of the water through the injection opening. For that purpose the receptacle is filled up with said water. After allowing the air to escape through I, the pressure on M and M is read off. The time necessary to fill up the receptacle and the capacity of the latter show the corresponding flow under such pressure. By then operating the pump and progres sively opening the valves F and A, the pressure at M is observed and the apertures of F and A through which an injection of pure water is made with a flow equal to the flow from the fracture whilst exceeding as little as possible the zone which it is desired to stop, are also observed.

The maximum openings of the valves F and A and the minimum pressure to be adopted for the injection of the material are thus ascertained. After closing the sluices B and A, the receptacle is evacuated either partly through D or entirely through V, according to the composition character and density of the charges to be used.

When the charge has been introduced into the receptacle and the latter is closed again, the air cock t is opened and then, slightly, the sluice valve A and as the case may be the sluire valve a. When all the air has been expelled and after the cock 2. has been closed and the manometers M M indicate a pressure equal to the pressure produced by the pump, valve A is operated for the purpose oi. giving the requisite opening for the clearance. Then the valve B is operated.

It the charge is well adapted for the fracture, the manometers M and M show a deflection in the pressure, the pressure then rises and becomes stable at a iinal level inferior or equal to the level indicated by the manometer M of the pump. The known capacity of the receptacle and the reading 01 the indications of the water meter deter mine the duration oi the injection. The latter is stopped by closing the sluices l3 and A.

The observations made in the course of this first injection serve to regulate the conditions to be observed tor the following in jeci ion and so on, the operations l'ie'ing always carried out in the same way.

When several injections follow one another el'liciently, the deflection of the pressure noted on the manometers M, M becomes weaker and weaker and the final pressure indicated by said manometers apn'oaches nearer to the pressure indicated by the manometer M Parallelly the How per unit of time of the injection becomes weaker and weaker and consequently the duration of the injections becomes longer.

lVhen the deflection observed on the manometers M M has become negligible it is advisable, after ascertaining whether such effect not due to an obstruction in the injection pipes, to again regulate the flow and the 'tiusl'iing pressure by a test with pure water as in the first place and generally to adopt afterwards charges of a smaller size or density.

In many cases there is an advantage in treason postponing for a few days this new regulating operation and the series of injections determinedby it. At the end of each series of operations the valve 1 is closed and the connection It, as well as the receptacle with its accessories, are cleaned.

hen the fracture to be stopped is very narrow, that is to say, amounts to a fissure only, it is advantageous to replace the ini tion connection it by two or more a; iller connections corresponding each to an injection opening and the total of the sections of which is equal to the section of ll. This mode of precedure facilitates the introduction and division of the materials in the fissure.

It is obvious that an arrangement of the category shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 8 makes it possible to vary ad infinitum the pres sures and flows of injection, as well as the character and size of the materials. In certain cases it will be necessary to first cause a splitting of the ground by injections of pure water. lln other cases where the natural flow cannot be attained it is advisable to first inject with large inert materials and to inject with cementing material only when the breach has been sufficiently closed by filling it, etc. A single receptacle properly conditioned can, even if it is of a small capacity be sufficient for all the demands of the most varied conditions.

VVitIlr the apparatus for continuous applicationof the process, shown in Figs. l and I, only line materials and pastes may be used and the materials are charged and progress in a receptacle under the influence of a mechanical device up to a point when they meet the water under pressure. The out-letof the receptacle is narrow and the necessary stop mges in front of this outlet and on the side of the arrival of the materials socured by the great resistance to the penetration of the water opposed by the fine materials and pastes compressed by the me chanical device.

In the example of Fig. i the materials introduced through a hopper S in the receptacle R are propelled and compressed in the latter under the influence of an Archimedean screw V operated by a. motor M. Elemental charges are so formed ahead the narrow aperture (2/ where the materials meet the water under pressure which arrives through the pipes l. 1. Each. elemental charge is projected as soon as it has reached a vis viva sufficient to pass the aperture a. In the case of the variation shown by dotted lines in the same figure, the water comes through a pipe or passage arranged to coincide with the geometrical axis of the screw.

In the example of Fig. 5 the materials actuated by an Archimedean screw or by any other suitable means progress along a direction perpendicular to the axis of the receptacle and meet the water under pressure com ing through a.

Apparatus of this category make it pos' sible to vary the pressures and the flushing and the flow of injected n'iaterials in smaller proportions than in the case of the first category. Consequently this form of apparatus is preferably reserved for the execution of linings. plasterii etc.

It goes without say a; that it is advisable to employ Archimedean screws, and to line the innersurfaccs of the cylinders in which the progression of the materials consisting of hard substances, china, etc, takes place.

The process and arrangement described have for the following advantages:

1. As the process only necessitates water under pressure which may be obtained by the most diverse machines and means and particularly with electrical centrifugal pumps, it makes it possible to obtain, in the simplest and most prai; ical manner, variable injection pressures made progressively stronger and sometimes considerable may be necessary by the initial and successive characteristics of the fractures.

2. The process makes it possil' le to regulate .at will according to requirements, the flow of the injections by operating a single water valve.

3. The process facilitates the methodical preparation and control of the operations.

4. It is applicable with materials of the most different character and size (sand,

gravel, ashes, slags, milks and pastes of cement, etc), and it makes it possible to effect equally well, filling in, warping, concreting, cementation, etc.

5. Owing to the fact that it makes it possible to fill the large portion of the empty spaces by filling in with larger inert and cheap materials before injecting the expen sive binding materials, such as cement, the process results in a very important saving in the stopping of large fractures or breaches and on the other hand permits the stoppage of fractures and the consolidation of the ground in numerous cases where other processes are ineflicient or too expensive (open fractures on a larger surface or wit-h several outlets as in flakey soil, etc.)

6. The general installation which is necessary for the application of the process may be realized in a great variety of forms, whilst always remaining simple, easy and not cumbersome.

7. The possibility of concentrating the installation and the staff to work it within a small sized yard facilitates the conduct and supervision of the work.

8. The possibility of placing and loading the receptacle in the immediate vicinity of the fractures reduces to the smallest minimum practicable, the conveyance of the materials to the place where they are to be used in the ground and consequently facilitates the use of active or quick setting materials. This advantage may further be en hanced by the use of continuously loaded receptacles.

9. The large diameter which may be given to the injection pipe system owing to its very small length reduces the risk of obstruction. Furthermore it facilitates the introduction of the materials into the fractures and permits the use of materials larger than those usually used hitherto.

10. The great simplicity of the apparatus to charge the materials for injection, the possibility of lining, at least partly, the in ner surfaces of the same with hard substances such as glass, china, etc., and the possibility of preventing, at least with apparatus for discontinuous loading, in contact of the materials with parts working mechanically, reduce toa minimum the cost of upkeep and the renewal of the plant.

Claims.

1. Process for purposes of the character described which consists in loading the materials into a receptacle, closing the loading opening of the receptacle connecting the receptacle with a source of water under pressure and removing any air which may be contained within the receptacle, establishing communication between the receptacle and the source of water under pressure to produce in the former the higher static pressure obtainable from the latter, and pro jecting from the receptacle the material and water mixture by the vis viva acquired in accordance with the static pressure previously established in the receptacle.

2. Process for purposes of the character described which consists in loading materials into a receptacle, closing the loading open ing of the receptacle, removing any air which may be contained within the receptacle, establishing communication between the receptacle and a source of water under pressure to produce, in conformity with meter observations the highest static pressure in the receptacle that can be obtained from the water under pressure, and projecting the material and water mixture from the receptacle through one or more pipe systems by the vis viva of the mixture acquired in accordance with the static pressure previously established in the receptacle.

3. Process for the purposes described which consists in loading materials within a receptacle closing the loading opening of the receptacle and expelling the air therefrom, establishing communication between the receptacle and a source of liquid under pressure to produce in the former the highest static pressure obtainable from the latter, and projecting the material and liquid mixture from the receptacle through one or more pipe systems by the vis viva of the mixture acquired in accordance with the static pressure established in the receptacle.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

GEORGES JOSEPH MICHEL LElCKNAM. 

